Lorain man gets 3 years for hit-and-run that killed 17-year-old

Damion L. Cheers sniffed to hold back tears Dec. 28 as his father told the family of 17-year-old Jayvian Johnson his son was sorry for killing the teen with his car.

The statements were made by Ray Cheers Jr., minutes before his 27-year-old son was sentenced to three years in prison and a five-year license suspension for the Oct. 19, 2015, hit-and-run crash that took Jayvian’s life.

Ray Cheers expressed his feelings to the court, and also to Jayvian’s family.

“We are very sorry for what’s happened,” he said. “I know you guys are never going to forget, but I ask you guys to please forgive my son for this accident. We are very sorry.”

The elder Cheers said both families know each other, and that the crash has probably severed any ties between them.

“Please forgive my son,” Ray Cheers said. “It was an accident.”

Damion Cheers, of Lorain, pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to vehicular homicide, failure to stop after an accident and driving under suspension.

Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge D. Chris Cook handed down the sentence to Cheers agreed upon by the prosecution and defense attorneys.

Jayvian’s family appeared at the sentencing to voice their opposition to Cheers receiving what they said was a light sentence.

Janaa Austin, Jayvian’s aunt, addressed the court.

“I just want you to know how much this has impacted our family,” Austin told Cook. “Our nephew, brother, cousin, he’s never coming back, and I don’t feel like the little bit of time he is getting here today is justified.

“I just want you to take into consideration the pain that we’re feeling knowing our loved one is not coming back.”

Austin said Jayvian intended to enter the military.

Cheers addressed the court and apologized to Jayvian’s family.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he said. “It wasn’t intentional, and I’m sorry.”

In handing down the sentence, Cook said he believed the crash was an accident and Cheers did not intend to harm Jayvian, but Cheers was wrong in how he handled the situation.

“There was no excuse to leave,” Cook said. “To leave that child by the side of the road and pass away is inexcusable.

“I don’t know if he could have been saved, but the decent human right thing to do would have been to stay there, call 911 and do whatever you could; put that kid in the car and rush him to the hospital if you had to.”

After the hearing, Jayvian’s family continued to express their displeasure with the sentence.

Patricia Johnson Austin, Jayvian’s grandmother, who indicated she raised him, said there was no justice.